Chapter two:
Donnie comes in and under Raphs watchful gaze he takes off the bandages. He winces as he sees Leo's wounds, they've been healing well this past month. He cleans the wounds then bandages them up again.
Raph looks from Leo to Donnie. "Donnie." He begins but the other tries to wave it off.
"His wounds are doing really well." Donnie gets up to leave but Raphs voice stops him.
"Are you okay?" Raph watches Donnie carefully noticing the other is tense.
"Im just worried about Leo." Donnie tells Raph then leaves the room, knowing Raph can tell it's more than that.
It's been four months since Leo had gotten hurt.
Raph is sitting on the bed next to a still unconscious Leo. He looks to the others still bandaged face.
Donnie and Splinter take turns checking on Leo's wounds, as well as getting some food substance in him.
They have been hoping that Leo will wake up.
Donnie and Mikey have been protecting the city while Raph has been focusing on Leo.
Raph has seen a change in Donnie as he has been quieter. He supposes that his brother blames himself for this since Leo got hurt after saving him. Even though he knows that Donnie isn't going to admit it, knowing his brother well.
Donnie's eyes betray his guilt especially when he sees Leo's wounds. He still does his best to help Leo and help him heal.
Raph is about to look away when he swears he sees Leo shift. He's seen it a few times and Leo didn't wake up... Though he can't help getting his hopes up every time it happens.
Leo seems to settle down causing Raph to start to give up the hope that he would awaken. He then suddenly turns from his back to his side then lifts his head. He moves his hand to reach for his face.
Raph quickly stops him. "Leo." He begins only for the other to speak.
"I can't see!" Leo sounds confused, panicked, and dazed.
Raph pulls him close in a hug. "Your eyes are bandaged. They got hit really bad." He explains and waits worriedly for the other's reaction.
It takes a few moments as if Leo's foggy mind tries to remember what happened. He then goes very stiff in Raphs arms as it all seems to hit him suddenly.
Raph rubs his back keeping him held close. "It's okay. It's okay Leo." He tries to soothe him using his other hand to pet his slightly older brothers head. "You won't be alone through this. I promise you that." He starts to feel Leo relax a little, though he doesn't stop comforting him. He glances over as Splinter enters the room. "He's awake." He tells the other who comes closer to check on him. He looks back to Leo who slightly turns at hearing Splinters footsteps.
"Leo. It's just me." Splinter tells the other not wanting to scare him. He crouches next to the two and Raph moves a little away. He checks Leo over though seems to be satisfied by the end. "Your wounds are healing well. How are you feeling?"
"A little dizzy." Leo admits to Splinter. "My body feels a little heavy."
"Understandable. You were out of it for four months." Splinter explains surprising Leo. "Your wounds were pretty severe. But it is good that you're awake."
Leo shifts to try to get up though Raph stops him.
"Let's not rush things just yet." Raph suggests then they turn hearing a gasp.
Mikey rushes in while Donnie hangs back by the doorway. "You're awake!" Their baby brother hugs Leo, excited though is careful with him.
Raph notices Splinter turn to Donnie so he does the same.
Donnie is keeping his distance looking away guiltily. He seems to be remembering how Leo got hurt because he was almost hit by an attack.
Splinter heads over and talks to Donnie in a whisper.
Raph turns away to turn back to Leo who he notices has picked up on the whispering. He leans close to whisper to him. "Splinter just needs a word with Donnie." He explains as Leo turns to his direction.
"Why?" Leo whispers back worried something is going on.
"Donnie feels guilty that you got hurt this badly after saving him." Raph explains in a whisper and can tell Leo is even more worried.
"But it's not his fault." Leo whispers back and glances in the direction he thinks Donnie and Splinter are in.
"I know. But let Splinter talk to him right now." Raph sees Leo hesitate a moment then nods his head.
After a few moments Splinter and Donnie approach the others.
Mikey still hugging Leo not wanting to let go yet.
While Raph also has refused to move away from Leo during that time.
"Leo." Donnie begins as Leo lets him get what he needs off of his chest. "I know that you got hurt after you had saved me from being hit. Thank you for saving my life. I'm just really sorry that you had to get hurt like this to do so." He falls silent and he can't bring himself to look at Leo feeling guilty.
"Donnie." Leo turns to the direction Donnies voice came from. "I don't blame you for it. It's not your fault."
"But if I didn't need saving you would have been fine." Donnie tries to point out clearly not having prepared for that answer.
"That doesn't make it your fault. Things happen that are out of our control." Leo insists to Donnie who slightly glances away. "You can't stop everything from happening. I'm just glad I did what I could to save you. I'll never get upset at you for any of this. So don't beat yourself up over this thing you had no way to control to stop. Okay?"
"Okay Leo." Donnie's shoulders relax as he gives in to the other. He even has some tears that slip down his face. He sees Leo offer to give him a hug which he accepts. He tries to not sob not wanting Leo to know he's crying.
Raph is glad that Donnie does look to be feeling a little better. He hopes that recovery will end up alright.
The next day...
Leo's been getting restless so Raph helps him walk around the room.
Raph wants to make sure that Leo can walk okay before they head anywhere else. He keeps one hand holding Leo's arm and the other stretched out ready to catch Leo.
Leo's actually more stable than Raph expected him to be.
Raph will still stay close to Leo just in case though.
The two walk together, Raph ensuring that Leo won't run into anything, as they navigate the room at first for now.
Leo takes each step cautiously while clearly relying on Raph to ensure he'll be ok.
"There you go. That's it." Raph encourages to Leo.
Raph has always felt pride in being the family protector, and he will not let anything bad happen to him. He's already been unable to stop the hit that blinded Leo. He doesn't plan on letting himself fail at protecting him again. He leads Leo making sure to turn him if he's going towards running into something.
Leo doesn't fight him on any of the turns and follows his directions.
The two do laps around the room, Raph occasionally changing directions to mix it up making it a little more interesting to Leo, for a bit as they continue to walk together.
"You're doing so good Leo." Raph encourages which does make Leo smile.
"With your help." Leo mentions getting a chuckle from Raph.
"Suppose you're right." Raph continues to help Leo do laps around the room. He is ready to help when Leo can walk around outside of this room. He hopes that they can find a way for Leo to navigate without his sight. He doesn't doubt Donnie is already pouring research into how it can be done. He gently encourages Leo back to bed when he notices the other is starting to seem tired.
Leo goes back to bed without complaint knowing that he's still healing. He lays back letting Raph cover him with a blanket. He turns to the other... Or at least the direction he thinks the other is in... Before speaking. "Raph? Could you maybe check on Donnie? I'll be okay resting on my own."
Raph can understand why Leo wants him to check on Donnie. He doesn't doubt that Leo would do so if he could. "Sure thing. Just make sure you rest. No waiting for me to get back. I'll tell you how things are when you wake up." He agrees, getting a nod from Leo, and heads off to do that while Leo rests. He goes to the lab since Donnies been spending a little more time there than usual. He heads inside and looks around for where in the lab Donnie is currently. He finds the other sitting at his desk with his computer.
Donnie has Mikey curled up on his lap asleep with his head on the geniuses chest. He also has proven Raph right as he seems to be researching how blind humans get around.
Raph approaches causing Donnie to turn to him. "Hey." He greets the other. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing alright. I think I've gathered great research that should be able to help Leo move around easier without his sight."
"That's good." Raph nods his head. "Just make sure to not neglect yourself while trying to help." He gives Donnie a look telling him that's not an option.
"I'll nap after Mikey wakes up." Donnie nods to a still sleeping Mikey as a reminder to why he can't move yet.
"I'll make sure you do." Raph promises then moves closer looking to the screen. "So what did you learn about what might be helpful?" He wants to also be able to help Leo knowing that this will be a very difficult time for him. He can already see it in Leo needing to rely on others to even move around a room. He knows Leo is trying to put on a brave face though deep inside hed love to be able to do it himself. He hopes the tips Donnie is telling him about will end up working for Leo. He ignores any thoughts that he might have to step up as leader. He may test Leo however he has to as second in command, he secretly doesn't actually want the leader role especially after seeing some stress Leo goes through to do it.
They'll all figure out some way to adjust their lives to Leo's sight loss. They have to.